Snark & Sensibility

PARHELION 3/1/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LISA LICKEL

PLEASE WELCOME

LISA LICKEL

TO

FLASH FICTION FRIDAY

Excerpt from Parhelion, by Lisa J Lickel

“Come fly with me,” Harry crooned in his off-key breathy way near Maeve’s ear.

His tux was still crisp after an afternoon and evening of antics and his piney cologne masked any other body odor. More unfairness. Six hours had passed since the ceremony that afternoon. Although Maeve had promised herself beforehand she must not cry, must not cry, must not cry, she had teared up just watching their father walk Katrine down the aisle toward the altar. Katrine had never expected to live long enough to think about getting married. Only the wedding planner had remained dry-eyed, Maeve noted on the way back up the aisle forty minutes later, clinging to Harry’s trembling arm. What a softy.

“Just say the words.” Harry nibbled her lobe.

It would be so easy. Before the reception, the wedding party had ridden a minibus trailing white balloons and silver bells to Madison’s zoo for pictures with some of Katrine’s rescued zebras. That girl was going to have stories to tell for generations. They’d done the formal photo shoot at the arboretum, then made an impromptu visit to Spring Harbor Beach on Lake Mendota.

Maeve felt damp and gritty long ahead of her nervous toast immediately following the meal. She’d held up her champagne glass and sniffled her way through the joy in bringing their families together in an international gesture of peace and long life. Harry’s anecdotes from his and Martin’s Air Force exchange assignment drew laughs.

Harry. He twirled her and brought her in close again. “Up…where the air…”

The song was nearly over. Maeve caught her breath at the serious, determined set of his jaw as the last chords faded. He would have been in uniform tonight, but after his eight-year commitment to the Air Force was up earlier in the summer he’d taken a civilian posting. Thus, the tux. She fingered the silk of his green tie.

He’d asked her again last night. Again she told him it wasn’t the right time, to wait and let Katrine have this moment as the bride. Soon, though, she’d hear herself say yes—brain only slightly behind her heart. They’d need each other if the world kept going pear-shaped. According to the morning news, she’d tried hard not to hear, the president’s finger hovered over the button as nations halfway around the world threatened and postured. Allies were taking sides. The US government had begun offering enormous incentives to bulk up the military reserves and several of her friends had enlisted.

Scary wasn’t even close to the word describing the charged atmosphere. Idiots.

“Maeve, honey, the song is over,” Harry whispered, touching her nose.

“Oh! Right.” She summoned a grin but couldn’t suppress the shiver. Harry tightened his hold once again after they shuffled off the dance floor. “We should talk about Monday.”

Maeve swiveled to face him but caught sight of Aunt Ann and Uncle Mark. They stood in a group with their Stella-baby who had finally put her head on her daddy’s shoulder in tiredness.

She squeezed Harry’s hand, clutching at an excuse to wait. He might not like it, but she wasn’t ready to have that conversation and change the mood. “I have to say goodbye to Ann and Mark, and it looks like Ritchie and Colleen are going, too. Later? We can meet tomorrow. When it’s…quieter.”

He parted his lips as if to say something, but he pressed them tight again. He caressed the inside of her wrist, whispering, “I know…your family needs you,” and slipped away. Maeve huffed at his inability to say “goodbye” in so many words, though he had various other creative ways of leave-taking. She dragged her eyes away from him as she joined the huddle around those guests with young children who were heading out. She stifled a yawn. It was only ten o’clock, but it had been a long day.

Time. No one better than the Michels women knew about the importance of timing. Aunt Ann had married twice and had children in different generations; she had a grandchild older than her daughter Stella. Rachel—Mom—had married once, after Maeve was grown. They were the sages who could talk about the right timing for relationships. Trouble was, Maeve needed both their perspectives and couldn’t make up her mind whether to approach them singly or together. Maybe for tea at Grandma’s house.

ABOUT PARHELION

Maeve Michels hit earth hard, falling in love with a former Air Force test pilot. Harry Kane’s mysterious work as a consultant for a space engineering company piques Maeve’s interest. Maeve’s sixth sense says there’s more to Harry than he’s telling her, but with the world about to fall apart, she must decide to trust him with her future. Harry is keeping a secret from Maeve—he has to, or his one chance at being a real hero goes up in flames with the rest of the planet. His assignment: get her to join the program and him.

Lisa Lickel is an author, editor, and mentor who lives with her husband in the rolling hills of western Wisconsin. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction both short and full-length, including mysteries, romance and family drama, feature articles, and radio theater. She belongs to the Wisconsin Writers Association, the Chicago Writers Association and is a writing coach at Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp & Retreat. Lisa loves to encourage new authors through mentoring, speaking, and leading workshops. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer and blogger, and a freelance editor. Find more at www.LisaLickel.com.